PharmEasy Blog
Strawberries Hepatitis: Unpacking The Potential Health Risks And Precautions
Key Highlights:
- Understanding Hepatitis A transmission, risk groups, and symptoms
- Discussion of prevention and treatment options, including vaccination and prophylaxis
- Examining the strawberries hepatitis outbreak, including regions affected and epidemiological investigations
- Impact of the outbreak on consumer awareness, food safety regulations, and surveillance measures
- Frequently asked questions related to hepatitis A and strawberries
Introduction
Can you believe that frozen strawberries have been linked to a recent hepatitis A outbreak? This blog will walk you through everything you need to know about hepatitis A. Importantly, it’ll make clear how this disease can pass from strawberries to you..
We will take a deep look at the outbreak, its impacts, and its prevention. Plus, we’re going to simplify a wide range of points on the matter. You’ll leave with vital facts to guard yourself and your loved ones against future outbreaks.
Did you know?
- The hepatitis A virus strain causing the outbreak was genetically identical to a previous outbreak linked to strawberries from the same farm in Baja California. source: CDC
- Fully vaccinated individuals are usually immune to hepatitis A and will not get sick even if they eat the recalled strawberries. source: DOH
- A multistate outbreak of hepatitis A in the United States was linked to frozen organic strawberries imported from farms in Baja California, Mexico. source: CDC
- Two additional cases of hepatitis A in California and one in Washington were linked to the recalled frozen organic strawberries. source: Washington State DOH
- Hepatitis A is highly contagious and can spread through infected food and water. Vaccination is the best strategy for prevention. source: PMC
Understanding Hepatitis A
Let’s keep it simple. Hepatitis A is an infectious disease that attacks your liver. It stems from the Hepatitis A virus (HAV). It usually gets into the body when you eat or drink contaminated food or water. You can also catch it through close contact with an infected person. The sickness severity can span from mild to severe. If not treated well, it can lead to issues in certain social groups.
Hepatitis A virus (HAV)
- HAV is a small, single-stranded RNA virus that has no envelope
- It belongs to the Picornaviridae family
- Six different types exist
- Most human infections are caused by types I, II, and III
Transmission routes
- Faecal-oral route: eating contaminated food or water, close personal contact with someone infected
- Also, by touching contaminated surfaces when proper cleanliness isn’t practised
- Sometimes, through sexual activity
Risk groups and populations
- Those travelling to areas with high Hepatitis A rates
- Drug users, whether they inject the drugs or not
- People with chronic liver disease
- Those who are close to individuals who have hepatitis A
After the recent outbreak of Hepatitis A virus infection and it being linked to the consumption of strawberries, I strongly suggest taking measures to stop the spread of the Hepatitis A virus through food. It is important to ensure that the water used for irrigation, cleaning, and food processing is clean and free from any contaminants. Additionally, visitors to farms should prioritise good hygiene practices to minimise the risk of contamination.
Dr. Siddharth Gupta, B.A.M.S, M.D (Ayu)
Symptoms of Hepatitis A
From no symptoms to severe problems, a Hepatitis A infection varies greatly. Let’s look at some usual symptoms.
1. Incubation period
- They mostly show up 28 to 30 days after getting close to the virus.
- However, the time to signs can change and take from 15 to 50 days.
2. Common symptoms
- Fever
- Pain or discomfort in the stomach
- Dark urine
- Jaundice (skin and eyes turning yellow)
- Tiredness
- Feeling sick
3. Severity and complications
- For kids under six, symptoms may be milder or not even there.
- Adults, on the other hand, usually get worse symptoms.
- Rarely, HAV infection can cause liver failure or even death. You’re more at risk if you’re older or already have chronic liver disease.
I believe another important measure that may be taken is for food handlers to consider receiving Hepatitis A vaccines to avoid infections. Vaccination might help protect food handlers from contracting and spreading the Hepatitis A virus.
Dr. Rajeev Singh, BAMS
Prevention and Treatment
We can stop hepatitis A with vaccination and good hygiene habits. So let’s talk about ways to stop it and how it can be treated.
1. Vaccination
- It works really well in stopping HAV infection.
- Kids one year old as well as other high-risk groups should get it.
- Usually given in two shots, six months apart.
- Gives you immunity for a long time.
2. Pre-exposure prophylaxis
- Use of hepatitis A vaccines for travellers to risky zones.
- Making sure to eat only safe meals and drink clean water while journeying.
3. Post-exposure prophylaxis and treatment
- Your doctor may suggest a hepatitis A shot or immune globulin within 14 days of exposure. This might stop you from getting sick.
- The main treatment for existing hepatitis A infection is supporting you to feel better. There are no specific antiviral drugs to use.
One important measure I suggest is for patients infected with the hepatitis A virus to maintain diligent hand hygiene practices. This means using soap and warm water to lather their hands for at least 20 seconds after using the bathroom. By practising proper handwashing, we may minimise the spread of the virus and reduce the risk of infecting others.
Dr. Smita barode, B.A.M.S, M.S.
Strawberries Hepatitis Outbreak
Now you know all about hepatitis A and how to protect against it. Let’s consider the recent outbreak that linked it to strawberries. We will discuss all the happenings that took place recently.
1. Overview of the outbreak
The recent event highlighted the link between frozen strawberries and hepatitis A. This sheds light on how important it is to produce and consume food safely. Several countries were hit, leading to them looking into the issue.
Timeline of events
- In 2018, Sweden and Austria had an outbreak tied to frozen strawberries.
- Germany got two waves of hepatitis cases tied to strawberries. One was at the end of 2018, another in the middle of 2019.
- Some other European places, like the Netherlands and Italy, reported similar cases.
Regions and countries affected
- Sweden, Austria, Germany, Netherlands, and Italy were affected.
- The source may be Egyptian strawberries. These were spread by a German distributor and Polish producer.
2. Epidemiological Investigations
Investigations occurred to find the precise source of the outbreak. They also aimed to see how regions were affected. These investigations led to unique findings.
Outbreak detection
- Tests on the virus strains linked to the outbreak revealed a subgenotype IB strain was the cause.
- This strain was the same across many cases in different European countries.
Case definitions and surveillance
- Cases in the outbreak were identified via tests that confirmed the specific HAV strain.
- Improved case reporting and watching for molecular changes were set up in affected countries.
International communication and cooperation
- Information about the outbreak was shared through a system set up by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (EPIS).
- Sharing data between lands helped figure out how big the outbreak was and its potential sources.
3. Linking Strawberries to Hepatitis A
Thanks to the hard work of health authorities, the link between strawberries and the hepatitis A breakout was discovered and looked into.
Case-control studies
- Germany carried out two case-control studies during the two waves of the outbreak.
- Both studies found that those who ate a certain brand’s frozen strawberry cake were likely to get hepatitis A.
Microbiological investigations
- Not a single piece of direct proof could tie the outbreak strain to frozen strawberries in Germany.
- Tests on samples of frozen strawberries and strawberry cake from sick people found no HAV.
- Still, genetic testing on the outbreak strain showed it was similar to strains found in Egypt and strawberries from Egypt.
Also Read: Are Strawberries Acidic? A Deep Dive into their pH Level
Impact and Measures for Prevention and Control
This outbreak had a big impact. It pointed out the need for better food safety rules and educating consumers. Many steps were taken to keep the damage low and stop it happening again.
Outbreak control measures
- Health agencies gave out guidance for vaccination against Hepatitis A, having clean hands, and periods where cases couldn’t go to work or childcare places.
- Those near to cases were given post-exposure prophylaxis within 14 days of being exposed.
Lessons learned and future implications
The strawberries Hepatitis outbreak was a wake-up call. It showed us we need to be safer with our food and public health.
Consumer awareness and education
- Learning the right way to wash and clean fresh produce.
- Knowing about possible health risks tied to imported frozen fruit products.
Strengthening food safety regulations
- Better tracing systems are needed to act faster when foodborne illness outbreaks happen.
- More testing and checks need to happen in the production of frozen fruit products.
Conclusion
As shown in this blog, the strawberry hepatitis outbreak reminds us to be careful. Even harmless food like strawberries can hide risks if not stored and transported properly. It’s vital to stay alert to public health news and updates.
Knowing about Hepatitis A and how it can get into certain foods is key to tackling such outbreaks in the future. We need to work hard to make sure food safety remains top rate. That, along with better oversight and international teamwork can help avoid future cases like these.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Hepatitis A virus?HAV leads to acute liver infection in humans, spread chiefly via ingestion. The virus can come from contaminated food or water, or through close contact with an infected individual.
How is Hepatitis A linked to strawberries?If strawberries touch dirty water or are exposed to unsanitary conditions during processing, they can become contaminated with HAV. In recent outbreaks, specific batches of frozen strawberries and strawberry cakes were linked to the spreading of Hepatitis A.
How do I protect myself from getting Hepatitis A?You can prevent Hepatitis A through proper vaccination and maintaining good hygiene practices. Regular hand washing and ensuring safe food and water sources are other additional precautions.
Are all strawberries contaminated with Hepatitis A?No, not all strawberries carry Hepatitis A. The recent outbreaks have been associated with specific brands of frozen strawberries. However, it is crucial to thoroughly clean any fresh produce before consuming it.
References:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Multistate Outbreak of Hepatitis A Virus Infections Linked to Frozen Organic Strawberries [Internet]. [cited 2023 Aug 8]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/outbreaks/2023/hav-contaminated-food/index.htm
- National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). Resurgence of an international hepatitis A outbreak linked to imported frozen strawberries, Germany, 2018 to 2020 [Internet]. [cited 2023 Aug 8]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7502883
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